Monthly Archives: October 2017

Republican/Conservative mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis today demanded that the Campaign Finance Board freeze any additional matching fund payments to incumbent Democrat Bill de Blasio. Speaking at a press conference outside the office of the CFB Malliotakis referenced the recent testimony of Jona Rechnitz in the federal corruption trial of Norman Seabrook on his political contributions to de Blasio and, according to Rechnitz, the mayor’s responsiveness to his requests in exchange for those contributions.

Republican/Conservative mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis is a no, a yes and a maybe on the three propositions that will appear on Tuesday’s ballot. Ballot proposition #1, whether to hold a state constitutional convention, has been widely discussed, but propositions #2, to allow for reductions or elimination of the pensions of public officers convicted of a felony related to their duties, and #3, to create a 250 acre land bank and to allow creation of bike paths and utility lines in the Adirondacks, have received far less attention. Malliotakis has previously declared her opposition to proposition #1.

Mayor Bill de Blasio and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders rode the subway today, with riders in a packed but welcoming car calling out support for Sanders. Their destination was a press conference at the Fulton Street station voicing support for a “fair fares” initiative. They also appeared together tonight at a de Blasio campaign rally.

Mayor Bill de Blasio marked the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Sandy today with a Rockaway press conference and presentation on several resiliency projects. de Blasio was joined at the Arverne YMCA by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, NYS Senator James Sanders, Council Member Donovan Richards, NYC Director of Resiliency Dan Zarelli, Director of the office of Housing Recovery Amy Peterson and Parks Commissioner Mitch Silver.

The mayor outlined seven projects that the City will move forward with, using surplus funding from the rebuilding of the Rockaway boardwalk. The projects include several parks in the eastern part of Rockaway. Continue reading Sandy Fifth Anniversary→

We caught up with Republican/Conservative mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis in the midst of her 5 borough campaign day Saturday, talking briefly about campaign stops that day and the notion of the forgotten borough.

Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press conference today in which he defended himself for a second consecutive day against witness testimony in a federal corruption trial. de Blasio spoke in the Arverne section of Rockaway, as part of a lengthy presentation and press conference marking the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy and promoting the City’s ongoing rebuilding and resiliency efforts. Mayor de Blasio held a press conference yesterday, following a Midwood synagogue visit, in which he similarly defended himself against that testimony.

de Blasio again cast the witness testifying in the trial of Norman Seabrook, Jona Rechnitz, as a “liar” and “convicted felon,” energetically rejecting the assertion that de Blasio committed any crime or legal but wrongful acts in return for Rechnitz’ campaign and political contributions. de Blasio repeatedly emphasized that the U.S. Attorney’s office would have known all that Rechnitz has alleged, as he’s been cooperating with the U.S. Attorney, when the U.S. Attorney ended its investigation of de Blasio without bringing any charges.

Video:

Here is the full “off-topic” portion of the Q&A at today’s press conference. All but one of the questions focused on Rechnitz’ testimony.

Mayor Bill de Blasio held a short press conference this afternoon to defend himself against allegations made by a witness in the Norman Seabrook corruption trial. Speaking outside the Young Israel of Avenue K synagogue in Midwood de Blasio repeatedly called that witness a liar and a convicted felon. He defended his actions as proper and pointed to the investigations by the U.S. Attorney, which is also prosecuting Seabrook and had Jona Rechnitz testify, and the Manhattan District Attorney which concluded without any criminal charges against de Blasio or his staff.

Independent mayoral candidate and retired NYPD detective Bo Dietl demanded that Mayor Bill de Blasio be criminally charged in connection with campaign finance contributions from a witness testifying in the Norman Seabrook corruption trial. The witness, Jonah Rechnitz, testified that he made large contributions to de Blasio’s campaign and an separate political committee in exchange for access to de Blasio and actions from him. Continue reading Dietl Demands de Blasio Detention→

Republican/Conservative mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis returned to East Harlem Friday morning, walking a few blocks on 116th Street and visiting a senior center. She received a warm welcome from the few seniors present at the center and from the staff, but her walk was mostly walking. Malliotakis called out hello to people as she walked across a lightly populated 116th Street, with a few stopping to shake hands or take a palm card, others simply continued on their way. Continue reading Malliotakis On 116th→

The forum was structured to have each candidate speak on their own, with an opening statement and responding to written questions from the audience. Dietl and Albanese ended answering questions together, with some discussion between the two candidates but without them falling into a debate. Malliotakis arrived shortly after Dietl departed and she spoke solo as Albanese sat and listened.

Republican/Conservative mayoral candidate Nicole Malliotakis pledged to examine the City’s property tax system promptly after taking office. Speaking at a City Hall press conference with fellow Staten Island Republican and Council Member Joe Borelli, Malliotakis pledged to appoint a commission within 60 days of taking office, with a goal of producing changes to the complex property tax system in the City that’s widely viewed as uneven and inequitable.

Political peace ruled the shore, both East and South, of Staten Island this morning as mayoral candidate and Assembly Member Nicole Malliotakis and Council Member Joe Borelli held a cordial City Hall press conference. It’s been reported (such as this report by Anna Sanders in the Staten Island Advance) that the two Staten Island Republicans, who represent overlapping districts, have a poor relationship and Borelli had not previously joined his fellow Staten Island Republicans in endorsing Malliotakis for mayor. Council Member Borelli previously served in the state assembly alongside Malliotakis.

“I endorse Nicole” interjected Borelli as I asked about his lack of an endorsement, repeating it once I stopped speaking. Saying he’s “a confrontational person” Borelli described their relationship as being like siblings who fight while home but present a united front to the outside world. He concluded by making clear his preference for Malliotakis over incumbent Bill de Blasio.

He’s been dead more than 500 years, so there are some logistical issues, but Christopher Columbus has had a significant role in the 2017 mayoral race. He did not actually endorse Nicole Malliotakis for mayor, but his influence was felt in some endorsements that Malliotakis received from former New York State senator Serph Maltese and a group of Italian-American civic leaders Tuesday in Middle Village. In a twist Malliotakis, the only one of the four top mayoral candidates without any Italian ancestry, declared that “a vote for Columbus is a vote for Malliotakis.” (Bill de Blasio and Bo Dietl each have an Italian father and German mother, while Sal Albanese was born in Calabria and came to the U.S. at the age of 8.)